Textile sliver can changing and storage apparatus



, June 4, 1968 R. w, MUNRQE ETAL 3,386,134

TEXTILE SLIVER CAN CHANGING AND STORAGE APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Flled Oct. 1, 1964 R. l l

E- 1: ll.

June 1968 R. w. MUNROE ETAL. 3,386,134

TEXTILE SLIVER CAN CHANGING AND STORAGE APPARATUS Filed OCL. 1, 1.964 5 Sheets-Sheet l n s N u L W June 4, 1968 R. w. MUNROE ETAL 3,

TEXTILE SLIVER CAN CHANGING AND STORAGE APPARATUS Filed Oct. 1 1964 I 5 Sheets-Sheet Jun 4, 1968 R. w. MUNROE ETAL 3,386,134

TEXTILE SLIVER CAN CHANGING AND STORAGE APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 1. 1964 June 1963 R. w. MUNROE ETAL v 3,386,134

TEXTILE SLIVER CAN CHANGING AND STORAGE APPARATUS Filed Oct. 1, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent 3,386,134 TEXTILE SLIVER CAN CHANGING AND STORAGE APPARATUS Richard W. Munroe, Paul B. West, Gordon C. Anderson, and William H. Drake, Clemson, S.C., assignors to Maremont Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 1, 1964, Ser. No. 400,705 19 Claims. (6!. 19-459) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLQSURE Can changing apparatus for a high speed drawing frame having a series of drafting rolls and a coiler in lineal arrangement providing a can filling station. A full an storage station is positioned in lineal arrangement in front of the drafting rolls and coiler. It is spaced from the can filling station by an operator access platform in the form of a horizontal plate across which a full can is doifed by engagement with its bottom rim. The plate has a suitable switch for sensing the presence of any weight on it so that a full can will not be doffed while an operator is standing on the plate as during drafting roll or coiler servicing. An empty can ready station is positioned beside filling station and one or more empty can storage stations are provided in lineal arrangement parallel to that of the drafting rolls and full can storage station, producing a U-shaped path of can travel with the filling and ready stations at the base of the U and the empty and full can storage stations at its ends. Can doffing and donning devices are provided together with suitable controls for operation of the apparatus, which are integrated with the operation of the drawing rolls and coiler by a yardage counter which senses a predetermined quantity of sliver delivered to a can at the filling station and actuates the controls at appropriate intervals as well as arresting the delivery of sliver and severing it so that the coiling operation can begin in each new can with a fresh end of sliver. After the can changing apparatus completes its operations, its controls restart the drawing rolls and coiler.

This invention relates to textile processing apparatus and more particularly to a novel can storage and changing apparatus for moving to and from a can filling station a succession of cans for filling with coiled sliver from a coiler such as is used at the delivery end of a textile sliver drawing frame of the like.

In modern high capacity textile fiber processing systems of the type employing several cards to produce a composite sliver for feeding directly to a single delivery drawing frame, as are shown in US. Patent No. 3,134,- 144, May 26, 1964, and US. Patent No. 3,268,953, August 30, 1966, for example the drawing frame must operate to process the sliver at speeds of 1500 feet per minute or even higher, measured at its delivery rolls. At such high outputs, the collection and storage of the produced sliver in coiled form in cans raises a number problems, particularly since it is most desirable to avoid, to the greatest degree possible, a stoppage of the cards with the resulting deleterious effect on the sliver, for reasons explained in said patent and application. Thus, it is most important that any stoppage of the fiber delivery rolls during changing of a full can to an empty can can be short enough so that the cards may continue to operate during the can dofling cycle, and so that the practical ice problems in storing any substantial amount of the sliver being produced by the cards while the delivery rolls are stopped be avoided.

Another problem in systems of this type arises by reason of the high rate at which cans must be supplied to and removed from the coiler, by reason of the high rate of speed at which the sliver is delivered to the cans. To some extent, this problem is met by increasing can size, but this in turn makes more difiicult the handling of full cans. And even with large cans, the filling of a can by a high speed drawing frame requires but 15 to 20 minutes, so that an uneconomical amount of operator utilization has been necessary with heretofore known changing mechanisms.

Still another problem with such machines has to do with the difficulty of operator access to the drafting and coiler elements at the output end thereof in which it has heretofore been necessary for the operator first to move one or more full cans and to interfere, as well, with the doffing functions of the apparatus for an undue amount of time, such that the cards almost inevitably stop with the resulting deleterious effect on the sliver.

Accordingly, it is a major object of the present invention to provide novel can changing apparatus capable of dealing with the problems of changing cans at the output of a high speed drawing frame fed by a multiple card system without the necessity of stopping the cards during the can changing cycle and also capable of reducing the amount of operator attention required in its operation.

It is another major object of the invention to provide safe and convenient operator access to the drafting rolls and coiler directly from the delivery end thereof, so that necessary service functions such as cleaning of jams and lap-ups may be quickly and easily accomplished to reduce down time to a minimum and yet with complete operator safety and without the necessity of manually moving full cans in order to achieve such access.

These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a novel can changing apparatus having a plurality of can stations, not only including a can filling station and an empty can ready station, but also a reservoir for empty cans and storage for full cans, together with operating and control means therefor providing fully automatic operation with a minimum degree of operator supervision. In case the latter be required, the apparatus of the invention also includes novel operator access means preferably having safety means which controls the machine to prevent operator injury, while at the same time improving the access to the apparatus for minimum down time during necessary servicing operations.

Somewhat more specifically as to its station arrangement and controls, the invention provides, in a drawing frame or the like having a series of drafting rolls including a pair of delivery rolls and a coiler in lineal arrangement providing a can filling station, a novel can changing apparatus having a full can storage station positioned in lineal arrangement in front of the drafting rolls and coiler with full can sensing means for sensing the absence of a full can; an empty can ready station beside the filling station with ready can sensing means for sensing the absence of a can; and an empty can storage station preferably in lineal arrangement parallel to and transversely spaced from the lineal arrangement of the drafting rolls and full can storage station providing a U-shaped path of can travel with the filling and ready stations at the base of the U and the empty and full can storage stations at its ends.

For moving the full cans from the filling station, full can dofling means is provided, such having a retracted position and being responsive to suitable sensing means associated with the full can sensing means for moving to an advanced position to doff a full can from said filling station and preferably having associated therewith sensing means responsive to the advance of said can doffing means to its advanced position followed by the retraction of said can doffing means to its retracted position.

For moving an empty can from the ready station to the filling station across the base of the U, can donning means is provided, such having a retracted position and being responsive to appropriate sensing means such as the can dofling means sensing means to don an empty can from said ready station to said filling station. Can donning means sensing means responsive to the retracted position of said can donning means may be provided.

For moving empty cans to the ready station, conveying means are provided responsive to the ready can sensing means in the absence of a ready can at said ready station and preferably responsive to the can donning sensing means if present.

In order that a can changing control system integrated with the drawing roll and coiler is provided so that these elements may be stopped or at least slowed down during doffing as is usually preferable, sliver quantity sensing means such as a yardage counter is provided for sensing a predetermined quantity of sliver delivered to a can at said filling station, as well as means such as a clutch responsive to said sliver quantity sensing means for arresting the delivery of sliver from the sliver delivery rolls and means preferably responsive to a position of a can changing element for restarting the delivery rolls.

Preferably, too, means are provided responsive to the sliver quantity sensing means for severing sliver beyond said delivery rolls, so that the coiling operation can begin in each new can with a fresh end of sliver.

The invention meets the problem of access to the drafting elements and coiler at the delivery end thereof in a novel manner by spacing the full can storage station in lineal arrangement with the drafting elements and coiler a distance from the can filling station sufiicient to provide an operator access station, such access station having thereat a horizontal plate member providing a firm footing for an operator, while permitting movement of a full can thereacross from the filling station to the full can output station, the doffed filled can thereon being advanced to the full can storage position by novel means engaging its bottom leading edge lower rim. Preferably the plate member has plate sensing means associated therewith for sensing the absence of a predetermined weight thereon, positively to prevent movement of a can from the filling station while an operator, or for that matter a full can, is on said plate member, as well as means preventing the movement of a full can to the full can storage position when the latter is already occupied.

For the purpose of explaining the various objects and features of the invention, reference is now made to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, together with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the can changing apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section and partly broken away, of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end section of the apparatus of FIG. 1, taken on the line 3-3 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a side section of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1, taken on the line 44 thereof;

FIG. 5 is a cross section of the portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4, taken on the line 5-5 thereof;

FIG. 6 is a sectional side view of a coiler head including a sliver severing device controlled by the operating and control means of the apparatus of the invention;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are, respectively, top and side sectional 4% views showing the operation of the severing device of FIG. 6, and

FIG. 9 is an electrical circuit diagram of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, in FIG. 1 is shown a plan view of the apparatus of the invention wherein may be seen all of the can stations as well as the major mechanical and control elements therefor. Thus, in such apparatus, the cans C, indicated by circles, are automatically moved along a generally U-shaped path from an empty can storage station at positions R and R" to an empty can ready station E, thence to a can filling station F, and, after being filled, through an operator access station A to a full can storage station S, from which latter station they may be removed manually or by suitable conveying means (not shown).

For accomplishing such movement, the apparatus is provided with a frame having side walls It) and 112, end wall 11 and base 13. At the lower portion of the frame is mounted the can moving elements and controls, and at the top of the frame (FIGS. 1 and 2) is mounted a sliver cutter and coiler generally designated 15 (FIGS. 6-8), a drafting element generally designated 14 having delivery rolls 1 17 and certain control elements including clutch element 18 driven by main shaft 19, predetermined yardage counter and manual doif switch 106, as hereinafter more fully described.

Along one sidewall 19 of the frame extending for the length thereof and about half the width the frame throughout the empty can supply station at positions R and R and ready station E are provided a series of rollers 22% rotata is about transversely extending axes and driven by a suitable chain and sprocket drive 2:2 through a one way clutch 24 by reversible motor 25. A stop member, in the form of a vertically and transversely extending plate 39, is adjustably mounted adjacent end wall 11 on frame base 13 by slotted brackets 32 for movement toward and away from the final roller of the series thereof in order to establish the position of a can in the empty can ready station E. A normally open ready can switch 34 is mounted on plate 3% for activation by the presence of a can in the empty can ready station E. Beside the ready station E, also adjacent end wall 11, is mounted in a position transversely spaced from rollers 20 near the other side wall 12 of the frame a can turntable 40, such being driven from the coiler 15 in a conventional manner by a chain and sprocket drive 42 and vertical shaft 44.

The novel operator access station of the invention is provided by a horizontal stand plate member 53 positioned linearly outwardly beyond turntable 4t and the overlying drafting element 14 and coiler 15 on the same ide 12 of the frame and spaced from turntable 4t]. Horizontal stand plate member 5% is pivotally mounted about a transverse axis 52 at its side remote from turntable 40 for limited pivoted movement, generally in a horizontal plane, from a normal upward position maintained by spring 54 to a lowered position in contact with normally closed can sensing switch 56. Said switch is operated by the placing of any substantial predetermined weight on plate 5%, whether it be an operator standing thereon for easy access to the coiler and drafting elements, or a full can in temporary storage thereon, as hereinafter explained in some detail.

A pair of pivoted swing arms are provided for moving a can to and from the can filling station F on turntable 48. Thus, don arm 62 is monted for swinging movement about the axis of its shaft 63, said shaft being mounted in the end wall 11 of the main frame with its axis extending longitudinally of the frame toward empty can storage positions R and R", so that its free end carrying can pusher roilcr 6-; normally lies in its retracted position along said wall it) out of contact with a can. Arm 62 is actuated by air cylinder 65 through arm 66 on shaft 63, and the retracted and advanced positions of said arm are sensed, respectively, by retracted position switch 67 and advanced position switch 68 mounted on end wall 11.

Doff arm 72 is similarly mounted on side wall 12 for swinging movement about the axis of its shaft 73; said axis extending transversely of the main frame so that its roller 74 moves from its retracted position along rear wall 11 to its advanced position when activated by air cylinder 75 through arm 76. For sensing the movement of doif arm 72, a retracted position switch 77 and advanced position switch 78 are provided mounted on side wall 12.

For supporting a can for movement from dofled position A on stand plate 50 and establishing a full can storage station S, a series of divided supporting rollers 80 are provided mounted on frame side wall 12 and base 13, such being idler rollers, with one thereof, roll 81, being normally maintained in a raised position by sensing switch 82 for detecting the absence of a can at output station S. The terminal roller 83 is preferably somewhat raised to maintain a can at station S until manually removed by an operator.

A chain and sprocket drive 84 carrying a pivoted lug 86 cooperating with a generally horizontal cam plate 87 is provided for moving a full can from its doffed position A on stand plate 50 by engagement by said lug with its leading edge lower rim 90. Lug 86, being pivoted adjacent its forward end on endless chain drive 84, cooperates with cam plate 87 which extends for nearly the entire upper flight of the chain to swing the lug in a clockwise direction (FIG. 4) upwardly upon advancing movement of the upper flight of the chain to engage the inner surface of the leading edge lower rim 90 of a can and move it (86a) toward full can supply station S. When the lug (86b) reaches the end of its can plate, it will then be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as it continues to be advanced by the chain dropping downwardly out of engagement with the can rim at 91 for return movement along the lower flight of the chain. Chain and sprocket drive 84 is driven by motor 25 through one way clutch 26 by another chain and sprocket drive 28 and cross shaft 88, and a lug actuating switch is provided adjacent the input end of the lower flight of the chain for engagement by lug 86.

The coiling and severing apparatus 15 (FIGS. 6-8) per se forms no part of the present invention except by reason of its control by elements of the present invention. In general, it includes in addition to a drafting element 14 having a pair of delivery rolls 16, 17 with their drive element 18, main driving shaft 19 and control element 105 supported on end frame wall 11, a conventional coiler with a head overlying a rotatable plate 91 carrying an inclined tube 92 rotatable on a vertical axis on suit able bearings.

In the construction as shown in FIGS. 6-8, coiler head 90 is provided with a vertically disposed bore 93 located directly beneath the calender rolls through which the sliver is fed directly into the mouth of the inclined rotatable coiler tube 92.

At the lower end of bore 93 above the upper end of inclined tube 92 are mounted the elements of the sliver severing device which include a comb 94, which is secured to an inwardly projecting flange of the coiler head 90 to extend transversely adjacent one edge and immediately above the inlet opening of the inclined tube 92 and a hook 95 which is arranged to swing laterally in a horizontal plane immediately beneath the lower end of the bore 93- and above the comb 94. The hook 95 comprises a wire member having at one end a downward extension which is fitted into a bearing on the coiler head and provides a pivot support 96 about which the hook swings. A segmental gear 97 secured to the pivoting portion of the hook 95 is arranged for engagement with a rack 98 slidably supported in the coiler head for movement by an air cylinder 99.

The hook is adapted to be swung across the inlet opening in the upper end of the inclined tube 92 and over the comb 94 to engage and to disrupt the sliver by means of operating connections which include an electrically operated air valve 100 for cylinder 99, the hook normally being maintained in the retracted inoperative position shown in FIG. 7 and being moved to the sliver severing position (FIG. 8) by actuation of cylinder 99.

An electrical drive and control system is provided for the apparatus of the invention as shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings, only those connections being shown which are believed necessary for a full understanding of the present invention, with relays and their contacts being similarly numbered with further individual identifying reference numerals. The drafting element and coiler drive is shown in the drawings only by inclusion of drive shaft 19, the operation of the delivery rolls and coiler being controlled therefrom by a clutch 18 which is operated to start and stop the same as required in the operation of the apparatus of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 9, the various electrical elements are shown connected between two circuits lines 102 and 104.

The energizing elements for the can changing cycle include the normally open predetermined yardage counter switch 105. Such counters are well known to those skilled in the art and need not be herein further described except as to their function of mechanically and momentarily closing a set of switch contacts upon reaching a predetermined yardage of sliver fed between a pair of rolls, as determined by the number of revolutions of said rolls. With such arrangement there need be no provision for resetting, although such can be included if desired. As herein shown, the yardage counter is driven with drafting element delivery rolls 16 and 17. The contacts 105 are provided with a parallel normally open momentary switch 10b for manual initiation of the can changing cycle and are in series with normally closed empty can limit switch contacts -1 and can changing timer relay coil 108. The drafting element clutch 18 is in series with normally open time delay can changing timer relay contacts 108-1. The sliver cutter cylinder valve 100 and the full doif cylinder 75 have their operation initiated by full can dofling relay coil 108, being in series with its normally open time delayed contacts 108-2, contacts 109-1 of empty can dofiing relay coil 109 and the normally closed contacts of stand plate switch 56. Said coil is itself connected in series with normally open limit switch contacts 78 indicating that doff arm 72 has moved to its advanced position.

The empty can don cylinder 65 has its operation initiated by limit switch 77 indicating that dofling arm 72 has returned to its retracted position, such being in series with the normally open contacts 109-2 of full can dofling relay 109 and with the normally closed contacts of empty can donning relay 110-2. The reversing motor has its forward terminal 25-1 for doffing operation in series with the normally open contacts 109-3 of full can dofling relay 109 and with the normally closed lug limit switch 85 and full can absent switch 82 and its reverse terminals 25-2 for donning operation in series with the normally closed contacts 108-4 of can changing timer relay coil 108, normally closed don arm retracted limit switch 67 and empty can ready station contacts 34-1 of switch 34.

In operation of the apparatus, the empty can conveyor rolls 20, in the absence of a can at empty can ready station E, move cans from empty can storage positions R' and R" to the ready position E, such being accomplished if don arm switch 67 senses the don arm in its retracted position and senses the absence of a can in contact with empty can ready switch 34. When an empty can reaches the ready station B, it activates ready switch 34, opening contacts 34-1 to cut off the current to motor 25, causing the conveyor rolls 20 to stop. Should the empty can at ready station E move away from the switch 34, the conveyor rolls 20 are automatically caused to start up again to properly reposition the such can. Thus an empty can is always in the ready position when needed if at least one can is present at storage positions R or R". Should no can be present at such positions normally open contacts 342 of undepressed switch 34 in series with doff cylinder 75 will prevent the machine from dofiing.

After a predetermined number of yards of sliver has been fed to the can at station F to fill it, the automatic can changing cycle is initiated by the yardage counter switch M or by the dotf pushbutton 1%. This energizes the time relay coil 188, closing its contacts 198% and l d-2. This in return, operates relay timer 193 which, through its contacts 193-1, immediately releases the clutch is thus stopping the delivery rolls, l6, l7 and coiler including turntable ltl. After a time delay, the timer contacts 1884; close and, assuming the normal condition of stand plate switch 5r? without either a full can or an operator at the operator access station on stand plate 59, simultaneously energize the sliver cylinder 99 through its valve 10% and the doff arm cylinder to begin to swing the dofiing arm from its retracted to its advanced position (FIG. 2). If the stand plate 56 is occupied, the doffing cylinder 75 will not operate so that an operator may stand at the operator access position provided thereon without fear of injury for whatever time he finds necessary.

The sliver severing cylinder 19d operates immediately to swing the hook 5 to the sliver disrupting position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7 and in full lines in FIG. 8 causing a length of sliver extending between the arrested delivery rolls 16, It? and the high friction snub produced by the teeth of the comb 94 to be substantially stretched. The held length of sliver is thus stretched to the disrupting point at which the relatively short lengths of fiber are pulled away from one another producing a clean break in the sliver and leaves a hanging end thereof, so located that the free end will automatically be fed downwardly through the inclined coiler tube 92 upon restarting delivery rolls 16, 17.

When the full can has been moved by doffing arm 72 from filling station F to the stand plate 58 at operator station A, dofdng arm forward switch 78 operates to energize full can defied relay 69 which, through its normally closed contacts 139-1 de-energizes the sliver cutter cylinder ltlil and the duff cylinder 75. Sliver severing hook immediately retracts and doff arm 72 begins its return to its retracted position.

Simultaneously with the retraction of doif arm 72, as initiated by contacts lll9-3 of full can doffed relay 169 at the completion of the forward stroke of the dolf arm, assuming that full can absent switch 32 is closed, motor 25 will be energized in its forward direction so that chain mounted lug 86 starts the operation of moving the full can from the dotted position on stand plate 5t) at the operator access station A to the ejected position at full can storage station S by engagement of said lug with can rim 9% (FIG. 5) upon said lug being raised onto cam surface 87 by the advance of its chain.

The motor will continue to run in the forward direction until its cycle is complete at which time limit switch 85 operates to stop the motor upon being engaged by lug 86 at the end of its lower travel beneath its initial cam surface engaging position (FIG. 4). However, prior to this occurrence, lug as will have passed beyond the end of its cam surface 87 and will have dropped away from the can rim at 91, so that the full can is no longer further advanced. Until the can is removed, full can absent switch 82 will be maintained in open position, preventing further operation of motor 25 in its forward direction.

When the dotf arm '72 completes its retracting movement, it operates dolf arm retracted limit switch 77 which through contacts 1tl-2 and -2 energizes the den arm cylinder 65 to begin to move the empty can at ready station E to filling position F on turntable it). As the empty can reaches its filling position F on turntable ill, don arm advanced limit switch 68 is operated, which energizes empty can donned relay lit). This relay deenergizes the don arm cylinder through its contact 1104 so that the den arm begins to return to its retracted position. The relay 116 also de-energizes the relay operated timer 1th; through contact lltl l which through contact 1634;, engages clutch 18 and restarts the drafting element delivery rolls 1%, 17 and the coiler. Relay 11:? also deenergizes the full can doffed relay 139 through contact 1W4.

When the don arm 52 completes its retraction, limit switch 67 signals the return of this arm to its retracted position, so that the positioning of a can at ready station E can again take place as described above.

In view of the above description, it will be appreciated that, in addition to a novel element arrangement and control system, the invention also makes unique provision for operator access directly to the front of the drafting rolls and the coiler by providing an access station in lineal arrangement therewith in the path of doffing movement therewith for access by an operator while a can is positioned in the filling station and in the storage station, without interfering with machine operation except at the actual time of doffing of a full can and without the necessity of movin a full can for such access during normal operation of the apparatus. Only the actual deifing of a can is prevented by the presence of an operator at the access station.

For operator safety and conveniences and as an aid to rapid servicing of machine elements, the access station is preferably provided with a smooth, unobstructed horizontal surface of plate member 5t) extending for the entire width of the delivery half side of the apparatus to provide a firm and safe footing for an operator, while permitting movement of a full can thereacross from the filling station F to the full can storage station S, safety switch 56 being associated therewith positively to prevent doffing of a full can from the filling station F while an operator, or for that matter a full can, is on said plate member. So that the plate member may have a surface without projections, the dotted filled can thereon is ad vanced therefrom to the full can storage position S by the lug 8d engaging its leading edge lower rim 91, such being operable only when a can is not present at the full can storage position so that a second full can may be stored on the plate member at the operator access station without interfering with the filling of a can at the filling station, although the latter situation is not intended as a usual occurrence, since it interferes with the use of the access station by an operator. However, with a full can on the access plate, as soon as the can positioned at the full can storage station is removed, the apparatus will automatically function to activate lug 86 to advance the can on access plate 50 to the storage station S, once again making the access plate available to the operator. With the apparatus shown herein, then, nearly three cans may be filled before one need be removed, and additional full can storage positions, or completely automated can handling, could readily be provided utilizing the techniques of the present invention, so that machine cycle interference may be virtually eliminated as a cause of stoppage, resulting not only in unusually high operating efficiency but also minimizing the operators attention required.

Thus it will be seen that the invention provides novel can changing apparatus having the various aspects enumerated above. Modifications may be made by those skilled in the art within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A can dofiing apparatus having a can filling station,

a full can storage station lineally spaced from said can filling station,

means providing a generally horizontal surface closely adjacent said can filling station and between said filling station and said storage station for access by an operator to said can filling station while a full can is positioned at said can storage station,

means for moving a full can from said can filling station in a lineal direction from said filling station to said full can storage station, and

selective control means for operation by an operator,

said means for moving said full can from said filling station being responsive to said selective control means to prevent sai-d movement.

2. A can dotfing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said selective control means includes sensing means responsive to a weight on said horizontal surface means.

3. A can dofiing apparatus having a can filling station,

a full can storage station lineally spaced from said can filling station,

means providing a generally horizontal surface closely adjacent said can filling station and between said filling station and said storage station for access by an operator to said can filling station while a full can is positioned at said can storage station, and

means for moving a full can from said filling station in a lineal direction from said filling station to said full can storage station including sensing means responsive to a weight on said horizontal surface means,

said means for moving said full can from said filling station being responsive to said sensing means to prevent said movement,

4. In a draw frame or the like having a series of drafting rolls and a can coiler providing a can filling station, can dofling apparatus including a full can storage station positioned in lineal arrangement with said drafting rolls and coiler in front thereof and spaced from said can filling station,

horizontal plate means providing a generally horizontal surface positioned closely adjacent said can filling station between said filling station and said storage station for access by an operator to the front of said drafting rolls and coiler while a can is positioned in each of said filling station and said full can storage station,

means for moving a full can from said can filling station to said full can storage station including pusher means for moving said can to said horizontal plate means toward said full can storage station, and selective control means for operation by an operator, said means for moving a can from said can filling station being responsive to said selective control means to prevent operation of said pusher means.

5. In a draw frame as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for moving a full can includes means in dependent of said pusher means for moving a can from said horizontal plate means toward said full can storage station.

6. In a draw frame or the like having a series of drafting rolls and a cam coiler providing a can filling station, can doiftng apparatus including a full can storage station positioned in lineal arrangement with said drafting rolls and coiler in front thereof and spaced from said can filling station,

horizontal plate means providing a generally horizontal surface positioned closely adjacent said filling station between said filling station and said storage station for access by an operator to the front of said drafting rolls and coiler while a can is positioned in each of said filling station and said full can storage station, said plate means including sensing means responsive to a predetermined weight on said plate means,

means for moving a can from said can filling station to said full can storage station including pusher means for moving said can to said horizontal plate means including means effective to prevent operation of said pusher means while a said predetermined weight re mains on said plate means, and means engaging the lower rim edge of said can for moving said can from said horizontal plate means toward said full can storage station.

7. Can dofling apparatus as claimed in claim 6 further including sensing means responsive to the absence of a can at said full can storage station and said means engaging said rim includes means effective to operate said latter means only in the absence of a can at said full can storage station.

8. Can dofiing apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said means engaging said rim includes endless conveyor means extending linearly away from an edge of said plate means toward said full can storage station and lug means carried by said endless conveyor means effective to engage said lower rim edge of a can advanced beyond said edge.

9. In a draw frame or the like having a series of drafting rolls and a can coiler in lineal arrangement providing a can filling station,

can changing apparatus including an empty can ready station positioned transversely of said can filling station relatively to the lineal ar- 'rangement of said rolls, can donning means having a retracted position at a side of said empty can ready station remote from said can filling station,

can donning means sensing means for sensing the retracted position of said can donning means,

ready can sensing means for sensing the absence of a can at said ready station, and

empty can conveyor means for moving an empty can from an empty can storage position remote from said ready station, said can conveying means being simultaneously responsive to said can donning means sensing means and said ready can sensing means to move a can from said empty can storage position to said ready station when a can is absent from said ready can station and said can donning means is in its retracted position.

10. Can changing apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said empty can conveying apparatus extends along a line parallel to the lineal arrangement of said drafting rolls.

11. In a draw frame or the like having a series of drafting rolls including a pair of delivery rolls and a coiler providing a can filling station,

can changing apparatus including,

a full can storage station;

a full can sensing means for sensing the absence of a full can at said full can storage station;

an empty can ready station;

ready can sensing means for sensing the absence of a can at said ready station;

can dofiing means movableibetwecn a retracted position and an advanced position to doff a full can from said filling station toward said full can storage station;

can donning means having a retracted position and responsive to movement of said can dofiing means to don an empty can from said ready station to said filling station, and

empty can conveying means responsive to said ready can sensing means for moving an empty can to said ready station from an empty can storage station.

12. In a draw frame or the like having a series of drafting rolls including a pair of delivery rolls and a coiler providing a can filling station,

can changing apparatus including:

sliver quantity sensing means for sensing a predetermined quantity of sliver delivered to a can at said filling station;

means responsive to said sliver quantity sensing means for arresting said delivery rolls;

a full can storage station;

a full can sensing means for sensing the absence of a full can at said full can storage station;

an empty can ready station;

ready can sensing means for sensing the absence of a can at said ready station;

can doffing means having a retracted position and responsive to said sliver quantity sensing means for moving to an advanced position to dolt a full can from said filling station toward said full can storage station;

can donning means having a retracted position and responsive to movement of said can dofiing means to don an empty can from said ready station to said filling station;

empty can conveying means responsive to said ready can sensin means for moving an empty can to said ready station from an empty can storage station, and

means for starting said delivery rolls to deliver sliver to the changed can at said filling station.

13. .In a draw frame or the like having a series of drafting rolls including a pair of delivery rolls and a coiler in lineal arrangement providing a can filling station,

can changing apparatus including:

sliver quantity sensing means for sensing a predetermined quantity of sliver delivered to a can at said filling station;

means responsive to said sliver quantity sensing means for arresting said delivery rolls;

means responsive to said sliver quantity sensing means for severing sliver beyond said delivery rolls;

a full can storage station;

a full can sensing means for sensing the absence of a full can at said full can storage station;

an empty can ready station;

ready can sensing means for sensing the absence of a can at said ready station;

can dolfing means having a retracted position and responsive to said sliver quantity sensing means for moving to an advanced position to dotf a full can from said filling station toward said full can storage station;

can doffing means sensing means responsive to the advance of said can dofiing means to its advanced position followed by the retraction of said can dofiing means to its retracted position;

can donning means having a retracted position and responsive to said can dofiing means sensing means to don an empty can from said ready station to said filling station;

empty can conveying means responsive to said ready can sensing means for moving an empty can to said ready station from an empty can storage station, and means for starting said delivery rolls to deliver sliver to the changed can at said filling station.

14. Can changing apparatus as claimed in claim 13,

further including means for sensing the retracted position of said can donning means and wherein said means for starting said delivery rolls is responsive thereto.

15. Can changing apparatus as claimed in claim 14,

wherein said empty can conveying means is further responsive to said means for sensing the retracted position of said can donning means.

16. In a draw frame or the like having a series of drafting rolls including a pair of delivery rolls and a coiler in lineal arrangement providing a can filling station,

horizontal plate means providing a generally horizontal surface positioned between said filling station and said full can storage station for access by an operator to the front of said drafting rolls and coiler while a can is positioned in each of said filling station and said full can storage station;

an empty can ready station;

ready can sensing means for sensing the absence of a can at said ready station;

full can dofiing means having a retracted position and responsive to said sliver quantity sensing means for moving to an advanced position to dotf a full can from said filling station to said plate means;

can dofiing means sensing means responsive to the advance of a full can to an advanced position;

full can advancing means responsive to said full can sensing means for moving a full can from said plate means to said full can storage position in the absence of a can thereat;

can donning means having a retracted position and responsive to said can dofiing means sensing means to don an empty can from said ready station to said filling station, and

empty can conveying means responsive to said ready can sensing means in the absence of a ready can at said ready station for moving an empty can to said ready station from an empty can storage station remote from said ready station.

17. Can changing apparatus as claimed in claim 16 further including plate sensing means sensing the absence of a predetermined weight on said plate means, wherein said full can dolfing means is responsive to said plate sensing means to doff said can in the absence of said predetermined weight on said plate means.

13. In a draw frame or the like having a series of drafting rolls including a pair of delivery rolls and a coiler in lineal arrangement providing a can filling station,

can changing apparatus including:

sliver quantity sensing means for sensing a predetermined quantity of sliver delivered to a can at said filling station;

means responsive to said sliver quantity sensing means for arresting the delivery of sliver from said sliver delivery rolls;

a full can storage station positioned in lineal arrangement with said drafting rolls and coiler in front thereof and spaced from said can filling station;

full can sensing means for sensing the absence of a full can at said full can storage station;

horizontal plate means providing a generally horizontal surface positioned between said filling station and said full can storage station for access by an operator to the front of said drafting rolls and coiler while a can is positioned in each of said filling station and said full can storage station;

plate sensing means sensing the absence of a predetermined weight on said plate means;

an empty can ready station;

ready can sensing means for sensing the absence of a can at said ready station;

full can dofi'ing means having a retracted position and responsive to said sliver quantity sensing means and said plate sensing means for moving to an advanced position to doff a full can from said filling station to said plate means in the absence of said predetermined weight on said plate means;

can doffing means sensing means responsive to the advance of a full can to an advanced position;

full can advancing means responsive to said full can sensing means for moving a full can from said plate means to said full can storage position in the absence of a can thereat;

can donning means having a retracted position and responsive to said can doffing means sensing means to don an empty can from said ready station to said livery r011 starting means being responsive to a position filling station; of said can donning means. empty can conveying means responsive to said ready can sensing means in the absence of a ready can at feren es Med said ready station for moving an empty can to said 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS ready station from an empty can storage station remote from Said ready station, and 3,125,782 3/1964 Kaino et a1 19159 delivery roll starting means for starting said delivery rolls to deliver sliver to the changed can at said fill- FOREIGN PATENTS i Station 10 718,084- 10/1931 France.

19. A can changing apparatus as claimed in claim 18, 1,325,253 3/1963 Francefurther including can donning means sensing means re- 1,343,717 12/1963 Francesponsive to the retracted position of said can donning means; said empty can conveying means further being re- ROBERT MACKEY Acting P'lmary Emmmer' sponsive to said can donning means sensing means in the 15 I. C. WADD'EY, Assistant Examiner. retracted position of said can donning means and said de- 

